League Secretary's Notes
218 THE YPRES TIMES
We welcome very heartily all who have en
rolled as members during the past quarter,
and we desire to convey to them our grateful
thanks for their valued support. Thanks are
also due to our Branches, Corresponding Mem
bers and individual help that we have received
in the recruitments. Members are working
hard in response to the message of our dis
tinguished Patron, H.R.H. Princess Eeatrice,
which appeared in the last April edition of the
Ypres Times, expressing the hope that all
members will endeavour to swell our member
ship by enlisting at the very least one from
among their- comrades of the Salient. As a
result we expect to have the honour to record
a goodly influx of new members before the
end of the present year.
Welcome tidings have been received from a
faithful supporter in Mr. Edward Thomas, of
Auckland, New Zealand, signifying his good
intention to form a Branch of the Ypres League
in Auckland. We wish Mr. Thomas every
success in his staunch endeavours, and look
forward to report favourably in a future issue
of the journal. It is also possible that we may
be able to inaugurate a new Branch in Co.
Tipperary, where ex-service men are showing
their interest in the League through the kindness
of Mr. J. Kennedy, ex-Sergeant, R.A.S.C.
The Ypres League travel bureau is happily
out to break all previous records in this Jubilee
Year, and since March 1st, parties have been
conducted to the battlefields of France and
Belgium as follows 168th Infantry Brigade,
167th Infantry Brigade, 4th Guards' Brigade,
Honourable Artillery Company, Easter Mixed
Pilgrimage, 85th Club, Whitsuntide Mixed
Pilgrimage, Public Schools, and 236th Siege
Battery, R.G.A. In prospect, we have the
August Bank Holiday Mixed Pilgrimage to
Ypres and over the same week-end a party of
60 or more members of the Old Coldstreamers'
Association. In addition, the 128th Infantry
Brigade are negotiating with us for a battlefield
tour in the Autumn, and our last Mixed
Pilgrimage to Ypres in 1935 will take place
from September 21st to 24th.
Space does not allow us to dwell too much
on the travel activity, but it has all-important
bearing on the League's work. Firstly, because
headquarters staff is brought in personal con
tact with Army units, ex-service men, and
relatives of the fallen and the rapid growth of
our travel organization is the outcome of their
recommendations. Secondly, this activity is
a substantial aid to the recruiting of new mem
bers who join the League at their own free will
in appreciation, not only of our facilities, but in
entire approval of the aims and objects of our
Association. Indeed, practical interest does
not cease here -After the 85th Club had
concluded their sixth consecutive annual tour
last May under our auspices, their Committee,
as a token of appreciation and regard, most
generously contributed a cheque for five guineas-
to the Ypres League Poor Pilgrim's Fund, and
we may add that in connection with thiis
charitable work, a further donation of five
pounds has recently been subscribed by the
South Kensington Branch of the British Legion.
We cannot emphasise our thanks too deeply,
and only trust that the respective Committees-
realise our debt of gratitude for their extremely
thoughtful gestures and benevolent support,
and they may rest assured that these generous
donations will give immense consolation to the
poor mothers and widows who are specially
selected to see, for the first time, the graves of
their sons and husbands at Ypres. Since 1927
the Ypres League has expended over a thousand
pounds on this charity and we expect to reduce
our anxious Waiting List still further during
the summer of 1935.
In order to increase the popular appeal of
the Ypres Times," we are hoping, provided
the kindly co-operation of our friends and
readers is forthcoming, to publish in the near
future a series of short articles on The Regi
mental Customs of the British Army."
We are asking all who are in a position to do
so to send us brief details of any traditional
customs that may be associated either with their
own or any other individual unit.
Contributions, under this heading, will be
gratefully received and acknowledged by the
Editor.
We cannot conclude these notes without
a feeling of deep regret in the sudden death of
Captain J. G. W. Hyndson, M.C., one of our
best all-round supporters, not only active in
recruiting new members, but he contributed
three fine battle articles for the Ypres Times,
which were published in the April, July and
October, 1934, editions, respectively, and which
must have been read with great interest. In
addition, he allowed us to sell his book From
Mons to the First Battle of Ypres with a com
mission to the League funds on each copy sold,
and once he accompanied one of our parties
to Ypres in order to give some lecturettef on
his 1914 experiences. Such an active member
as Captain Hyndson cannot easily be replaced,
and we shall always miss his welcome and
encouraging visits to headquarters. Our deepest
sympathy is extended to his father, the Rev.
Jas. Hyndson, in his great bereavement.
During the last year or two, our ranks have
been sadly depleted in the death of some valuable
workers, but the League is particularly for
tunate, in that it possesses an exceptionally
loyal membership and, as in war-time, when
so often the best are taken, others are ready
to come forward and exercise even greater
efforts in their memory.